In a world increasingly driven by immediacy, Blancpain continues to offer a different perspective, one where time is not merely measured, but contemplated. With the 2026 Villeret collection, the Manufacture reaffirms a philosophy that has defined its identity for decades: a deep respect for tradition, combined with an unwavering commitment to mechanical excellence. 

I — HERITAGE

A legacy shaped by resistance

To understand the essence of the Villeret is to revisit a pivotal moment in watchmaking history. At the height of the quartz crisis, when electronic precision threatened to overshadow centuries of craft, Blancpain made a bold and almost paradoxical choice: to embrace mechanical watchmaking even more deeply.

This conviction gave birth, in 1983, to one of its most emblematic creations: the complete calendar with moon phase. It was not merely a watch. It was a declaration, that time, in its most meaningful form, is not digital. It is alive. The Villeret collection was born from that defiance, and it has carried the same spirit ever since, culminating in the legendary 1735, one of the most complex wristwatches ever conceived.



II — MOON PHASE

The poetry of the moon

At the heart of the Villeret lies one of Blancpain's most recognizable signatures: its moon phase. Far from a simple complication, it embodies a poetic dimension rarely found in contemporary watchmaking. The moon - with its delicate expression, often described as a subtle Mona Lisa smile - reflects light in a uniquely captivating way that changes with every viewing angle.


Crafted as a solid 18k gold domed appliqué and set against a deep blue ceramic disc,the new moon phase achieves something beyond precision - it evokes connection to natural cycles, to rhythm, to the quiet passage of days.


For 2026, the opening has been enlarged for improved legibility, and a new constellation of stars accompanies the moon across its arc, creating a stronger visual contrast that makes each phase instantly readable. In an era obsessed with speed, Blancpain invites us to slow down and look up.

III — MOVEMENT

The invisible excellence of craftsmanship

What makes a Villeret truly exceptional often lies in what cannot be seen at first glance. The calibre 6654.4, entirely conceived, developed, produced, decorated, and assembled in-house, reflects the highest standards of Swiss watchmaking. From the refined Côtes de Genève finishing to the intricate perlage worked in multiple sizes, polished angles, and drawn lines, every surface is treated as a canvas.

The movement incorporates a silicon hairspring for superior chronometric performance and strong resistance to magnetic fields - a discreet yet powerful expression of modern innovation woven invisibly into a classical form. Two mainspring barrels deliver a power reserve of 72 hours, ensuring the watch keeps pace with its wearer through three full days without winding.

A new open-worked gold winding rotor now graces the movement, designed to reveal rather than conceal: through the sapphire case back, the bridge decorations become part of the experience. The calendar mechanism, meanwhile, may be adjusted at any time without risk of damage: a thoughtful safeguard engineered for a lifetime of use.




IV — DIAL

A surface crafted like art

The dial of the Villeret is a testament to Blancpain's obsession with perfection, and its colour is far from accidental. It is the result of five successive baths: two preparatory washing treatments to purify the surface, followed by three galvanic baths to build a depth and evenness of tone that cannot be achieved any other way. The final bath is composed of gold superior to 18 carats, lending the dial an exceptional chromatic richness that deepens under certain light and seems almost to breathe.

The iconic sunray finish is then applied, creating an animated interplay with the contrasting date ring that shifts as the watch moves on the wrist. Each dial meets the industry's strictest tolerances for thickness and flatness, and each Villeret Quantième Complet dial is individually inspected eight times, at every step of production, by a human eye. That figure alone speaks volumes about what luxury truly means at the Manufacture.

V — HANDS & INDEXES

Timeless design, reinterpreted

The architectural quality of the Villeret's face is built detail by detail. The solid 18-carat gold Roman numeral indexes are applied with precision, each combining a satin-finished top surface with polished, bevelled sides, a duality that animates the dial with shifting light depending on angle and illumination. At 12 o'clock, tradition gives way to identity: the classical "XII" has been replaced by the "JB" monogram, an understated signature that rewards the attentive observer.

The hands themselves have been redesigned with a sharper, more assertive profile, and now carry Super-LumiNova - a contemporary addition that preserves readability long after dusk falls, without compromising the watch's classical elegance in daylight.

VI — CASE & STRAPS

Form that follows feeling

The Villeret's signature double-stepped case remains the collection's most recognisable architectural gesture - a form that conveys depth and ceremony without a single superfluous line. For 2026, it has been subtly reinterpreted: proportions are refined with a slimmer bezel and a thinner profile, the crown is enlarged for more intuitive winding, and the lugs have been redesigned to improve both elegance and wrist comfort.

The patented under-lug correctors, introduced in 2005, remain an exemplary solution to the challenge of calendar-setting. By concealing the correctors beneath the lugs, the flanks of the case remain entirely clean, free of the dimples that interrupt so many complications watches. Adjustments require no tools, only a fingertip.

The collection also introduces a new quick-release strap system, a genuinely modern convenience executed with the discretion one expects of a Manufacture. Discreet tabs at both the case attachment and the deployant buckle allow the strap to be changed in seconds — no tools, no hesitation. Straps are offered in blue-grey, honey, beige, brown, and beyond, allowing the Villeret to adapt its character without ever losing its composure.

"There is Eternity in Every Blancpain"

Where to experience Blancpain in Belgium

Colman
Elizabetlaan 17/19
8300 Knokke

Colman
Eiermarkt 7
2000 Antwerp